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MTB TRAIL STATS

Avg Rating:	28 trail reviews
Status: Open updated 4/15/09 by COGator00 Closed Open Wet / Sketchy	Difficulty: Advanced
Length: 6 miles	Global Rank: 377
Tread: Singletrack	Configuration: Loop
Ridden: 222	Wishlist: 92
Avg. Speed: 5.17 mph	Avg. Time: 1hr 28min
Elevation Gain/Loss: +426/-454 ft

 

Buffalo Creek in Pine

 

3 Sisters / Alderfer in Evergreen

 

Waterton Canyon in Littleton

 

White Ranch in Golden

 

  
reviewed by Goo on November 12, 2009

Rode this trail about a year and a half ago, but somehow never added a review, so here goes. This trail is INCREDIBLE! TECHNICAL is definitely the name of the game, but if that's your game, this trail totally rocks! The exposure up on top is pretty heady in places. Several really tough climbs, and several speedy descents. Whenever I think of technical riding now, I remember this trail. Can't wait to get back to Denver and ride it again!

  
reviewed by BFD on June 25, 2009

TECH-NI-CAL. I agree with the previous reviewer, warm up before hand if possible. The climbs are not endless but the technicality involved makes each section...memorable. A blood/skin sacrifice to this trail is expected at every outing.

Similar Trail: Apex Park, Golden. Bergen Peak, Evergreen.

  
reviewed by kuala_tahan on May 11, 2009

Parked in the Red Rocks lot, pretty diesel climb up from there without warming up. Past the M... parking lot (forget the name, starts with an "M" I think) climbing up the fire road-type area, was to muddy and couldn't ride up it. But, on top the ridge is awesome, nice and technical, fun ride. Tough when wet, but still do-able. Fun ride

  
reviewed by COGator00 on April 15, 2009

Good warmup is recommended before the Dakota climb, technical rock climbing/descending throughout entire ridge. Cross the road and enter Red Rocks (get ready to climb). Fun workable climbing with fun rolling track back to the lot.

Similar Trail: Mack Ridge

  
reviewed by skibum on December 10, 2008

How cool to have something so tech be so accessible. Beware the climb after a rain as the clay will cake your tires within a few yards. Once it dries, however, you get great "bang-for-the-buck" in technical goodies on Dakota Ridge. This place rocks--literally! The only drawback is the crowds, including trail runners.

  
reviewed by pukalani13 on November 16, 2008

OMG the trail is beautiful!! The terrain is trecherous if you are as new to MTB as I am ..I did well but was cautious..guys took some pictures as I crawled slowly down on some of the more technical parts..I will wear shin and elbow protection next time ..the greatest challege wasnt the ride up but the rocky downhill with lots of hikers and runners!I cant wait to go back ..scariest ride that I have done but well worth it now that I know what to expect!Guys who ride it all the time at the bottom were impressed worth it just for the attention from the hot guys!

Similar Trail: grand tetons ..JK

  
reviewed by ridingdave on August 12, 2008

Pretty climbs and downhills. Great view of the area and will lead to the amphitheater. Definitely worth it!

  
reviewed by taiguy on July 7, 2008

Dakota Ridge and Red Rocks are two very different trails. It's just convenient that they both originate from the matthew winters parking lot and together form a loop. I ran it clockwise, starting with Dakota Ridge. Dakota ridge starts with a decent climb up a jeep service road before you hit the ridgeline. The entire trail is basically one giant rock garden with various "big guys" thrown in for good measure. As noted by other reviewers - the stairs look pretty much impossible for normal humans. I ended up hike-a-biking a substantial portion of dakota ridge. Too much for an intermediate rider such as myself, especially the some of the climbing portions. Overall it was still a lot of fun to challenge myself and see what I could do without dying. Red rocks is much more mellow, even more so considering just coming down from dakota. It's very XC with mostly packed dirt. Coming clockwise you go through a pretty decent climb before leveling off. Much more fun since I didn't have to get off my bike every 50 yards (heh).

  
reviewed by steve32300 on November 1, 2007

wow.this trail is a trip.its not your usual technical rocky trail.there is alot of skill you use here that you wouldnt usually use in such a way.if you notice,there are alot of pedal and crank scratch marks on alot of the rock.pedaling can be reduced to half pedaling on account of all the rock in the way of your pedals.you'll learn how to half pedal if you dont know how already.its challenging and cool to learn.nice views from the ridge and you can make it a long ride if you start from green mountain to dakota ridge to mathews/winters.and just like arnoldo14 said,endoing is a very distinct possibility.i endo'd here and i had to just let go of the bike and it came crashing down derailer side down.broke the frame.

* Review edited 11/6/2007

Similar Trail: apex

  
reviewed by arnolda14 on June 6, 2007

My review of the west side is under Mathew Winters (sic). Dakota is fun and challenging. One time I endo'd here and came inches away from a rock-first face-plant. This is a good place to test and improve your skills.

  
reviewed by BobinConifer on May 13, 2007

This is a great loop ride with some very fun technical climbs --even if man made. I've seen more injuries on this trail than any other! Mostly over the bar broken collar bones but one pretty messed up downhiller who thought a full faced helmet would save him from not knowing what he was doing. It's short so you pretty much have to loop it with Mathews/Winters. This is a good intro to technical challenges and a local tuner for Denverites planning a Moab trip...

  
reviewed by Jeepmb on December 19, 2006

Mathews/winters is my favorite of the group. Sandy in some parts, but love the trails. Great for any level of riding

Similar Trail: Green Mountain, Denver

  
reviewed by yellowdman on December 7, 2006

This is a fun trail to ride! I always loop it in with Mathew Winters Park since it's right there. The Dakota Ridge side does have some pretty good technical sections so I wouldn't recommend it to the very beginner rider but the Red Rocks side is pretty tame. I always start from the parking lot on the north part of Dakota Ridge and work my way upward and clockwise down to Red Rocks and Mathew Winters back then back to the parking lot.

  
reviewed by Lancefan on December 2, 2006

Both challanging and fun. If you want even mor climbing you can start at Green Mtn. and come up the Zorro trail.

  
reviewed by brian_edwards on November 26, 2006

I rode this trail after riding Green Mountain Thanksgiving Day. I actually only got to ride the Dakota Ridge Portion of it as the shadows were getting pretty long. I enjoyed this one alot better, quit a bit more technical and alot less people. I will come back here and ride the whole thing next time in Denver.

  
reviewed by MarkZahn on November 9, 2006

I forgot to rate it. I think Mnt Falcon is funner yet it hasn't been rated as popular.

Similar Trail: Apex

  
reviewed by yellowdman on November 8, 2006

This is a real fun loop to do. I always start on the North Dakota Ridge side and work my way clockwise to Red Rocks then I loop it into Mathew Winters to make the ride longer and more fun. I would say the Dakota Ridge trail isn't for beginners because it does have some pretty technical sections and a couple of sphincter puckering sections too. The Red Rocks side is pretty smooth and if you did the loop clockwise your going to be going uphill when on the Red Rocks side and if you loop Mathew Winters into it expect some really tight switchbacks and a couple of technical sections. Also if your scared of snakes then this place might not be for you during Spring and Summer and sometimes into fall. I've seen more snakes here than any other front range trail. PLEASE BE NICE TO THE SNAKES! This is a great trail to ride to help yourself improve on your technical skills.

  
reviewed by MarkZahn on October 16, 2006

This trail is a blast but if you're not advanced plan on doing hike-a-biking. I've never seen such a wide variety of obstacles, different challenges and all sequenced together. It definitely should be classified as a bike basher and a biker basher, if you're not skilled.

  
reviewed by jeeper on October 14, 2006

A tale of two trails. You can do this as loop or each one separately. The Red Rocks side is fairly easy but quite rocky. Only two short sections of what I would call technical. A good fitness challenge going back to the parking lot if you are out of shape like me. I found it fun to explore the paved roads up to and around the ampitheatre. For a fun and fast downhill, ride up to the ampitheater. After catching your breath ride back down to the trail for a exciting paved downhill. Just watch out for cars through the tunnel. The Dakota Ridge side is Technical and physically challenging but well worth the grind. Great views and some variation. Well worth it if you are up for the challenge. I highly recommend the loop, Dakota Ridge north to south then cross the higway and take the red rocks side back to your car.

  
reviewed by tele_ski1 on May 4, 2006

The Dakota Ridge section is one of the funnest rides in the front range. It has great technical climbs and descents, tight switchbacks and a few drops. The Red Rocks side of the trail is a mixed bag of easy single track and short rocky technical sections probably even more difficult than dakota ridge.

Similar Trail: apex

  
reviewed by dirtcoach on December 4, 2005

I have been riding this trail for 15 years and is part of a training loop I do almost weekly year round. Yes this an advanced trail so be warned. I have seen many people bleeding on it, knocked out and bruised. Not real gonzo though since there never really is any steep sections that last. This Trail is very short with lots of hikers at times . Full Suspension is recommended though is cleanable on a Hard tail. After the saddle section and steps the rest of the trail needs to be ridden in the Middle or Big Ring going, this will make going over the rough stuff EZ and more fun. Depending on your skill and fitness North to South Takes under 20mins to an hour or more

Similar Trail: Sections or Tempelton Trail in Palmer Park, The Technical sections of Apex but more.

  
reviewed by jbersch on October 23, 2005

This is a nice set of trails close to Denver. Dakota Ridge is a nice Advanced ride with many steep, rocky sections. Red Rocks trail is a nice intermediate with a handful of short, steep climbs. While a bit washed out, both trails are a blast to ride with great scenery. If you ride Dakota, be sure to ride North -> South. Much more "downhill" that way. Link up with Red Rocks at the end of Dakota and youíll have a nice long (mostly uphill) ride back to the parking lot. (We park in the lot right near I-70). It gets a bit crowded due to the proximity to Denver, but like most of the trails around the front range, the majority of people are exceptionally courteous.

Similar Trail: Green Mountain

  
reviewed by Troy on October 9, 2005

A friend and I rode this trail for the first time yesterday (Saturday morning) and loved it. We're both probably considered advance-novice or low-intermediate level riders, but we love technical challenges. This one was definitely that. We had to walk some of the steep stair climbs and a couple of the more technical, steep downhill sections, but other than that we were able to do most everything on Dakota Ridge. We hooked up with the Red Rock Trail after Dakota Ridge and found it to be technical (though not as much so as Dakota Ridge) and a little faster, which proved to be a lot of fun. The final ride back to the Matthews Winters parking lot was a nice downhill with some woopty-doos. The trail was fairly busy with other bikers, hikers and horse-back riders so watch your speed. A great trail if you like a technical challenge, and awesome views of Red Rocks, Denver, and surrounding area.

  
reviewed by c3667 on July 30, 2005

this is a great trail to use as a connecting trail from Green mountain to Mathew winters park. and a fun climb from the GM Rooney road lot.

Similar Trail: Mathew Winters

  
reviewed by Animal on June 26, 2005

Wow, one of the best trails that I have ever been on.

  
reviewed by mtberman on January 17, 2005

The initial ride up the ridge can be challenging but it's not too long and fairly do-able. Once at the top you just ride the ridge which is one of those don't-miss-it trails and I agree that it's one of the best in the Denver-metro area. The ridge along the top is challenging, especially the stair steps up. Making it up a few of those is good for the ego. Once down the other side be sure to ride the Red Rocks area because it's an idyllic spot and even the steepest sections are rideable. The balance of the ride back to the start is a great cool down. Great scenery, challenging sections mostly at the beginning, fun and easy toward the end, and an easy drive to get there.

Similar Trail: Walker Ranch near Boulder

  
reviewed by ameyer on September 28, 2004

This has to be one of the best trails within 10 miles of Denver. Starting from the parking lot there is an excellent first climb to the top of Dakota Ridge, once there the fun starts with what I think is the roughest and most fun 2 miles of trail around. After that portion the rest of the trail is easy. Make sure you do the Morrison Slide part of the trail (you made it that far, don't wimp out now) on the way back or you miss out on a good rocky switchbacked climb. Great views of the surrounding area are a reward for your efforts. The trail back to the parking lot from the bottom of the Slide is rolling fun and fast. Ahh, the satisfaction of completing the trail (7.2 miles if you do the Morrison Slide part also). Don't miss this one.

  
reviewed by Pain_Is_Relative on August 17, 2004

A friend and I only road the Dakota Ridge portion of this ride and boy was it difficult. My friend was attempting his second serious mountain ride and the ridge way 50 rides over his head. The first climb from the parking lot was tuff and for the first time in awhile it took the wind out of me. On reaching the summit of the ridge the fun really began. The ridge is the most technical ride I have done to date but I can't wait to go back and try it again. There were many portions that I had to bail on because of superior technicality. Beginners will have to push the bike most of the ridge. There are spots when you can start cruising but not far is a technical portion which will slow you down. This is a great advanced ride for the after work enthusiast and I strongly recommend it to anyone not shy of slick, steep, technical, and intimidating mountain biking. P.S. After the first climb there is only one other aerobic challenge half way on the ridge; that is if you can make it up the technical climb.

Similar Trail: White Ranch, Walker Ranch, Hall in Lyons

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